The Most Over-The-Top Gifts From Neiman Marcus’ 2013 Christmas Book

For some, Thanksgiving marks the holiday season’s official kickoff. Others wait until early December to begin their yuletide preparations. But for us, the joyous arrival of Neiman Marcus’ annual Christmas Book heralds the true beginning of the holidays—and wouldn’t you know, the glossy red catalogue just landed on our desks this morning!

Among the offerings in this year’s volume? A gold-clasped Alexander McQueen clutch ($4,030), a Brunello Cucinelli cashmere cable-knit throw ($2,890) and a gold lace gown from Monique Lhuillier ($4,990). But of course, the catalogue’s real magic lies in the "Fantasy Gifts" section, where custom cars share space with exotic vacations and gobstopper-sized diamonds—and this year, a portion of the proceeds from each will go to The Heart of Neiman Marcus Foundation, an organization dedicated to bringing art experiences to youths nationwide. For 2013, discerning gifters can select from a bespoke falconry set, a limited-edition Aston Martin and the most awesome state-of-the-art home theater we’ve ever seen—but such presents don’t come cheap, as you’ll learn in the slideshow above. Suddenly, that McQueen’s looking like a bargain buy…